Methods for insertion and retraction of a connector

ABSTRACT

Methods for inserting and/or removing a connector with a remote connector agent are disclosed. Embodiments may include inserting a connector into a remote connector agent to form a remote connector system and pushing the remote connector into a header of a board to insert the connector into the header. Embodiments may also include pulling the remote connector system to retract the remote connector from the header. In some embodiments, inserting the connector into the remote connector agent further comprises pushing back one or more insertion snap pushers to allow insertion of the connector. In some embodiments, pulling the remote connector system further comprises releasing a snap of the connector with a snap release actuator before retracting the remote connector system from the header.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Pursuant to 35 USC § 121, this divisional application claims priority toand benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/312,093, entitled“REMOTE CONNECTOR SYSTEM”, attorney docket number RPS920050179US1(4158),filed on Dec. 20, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinin its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of tools forinserting or removing connectors from a board such as a printed circuitboard. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods forinserting and/or removing a connector with a remote connector agent.

As computer technology continues to advance, computers are required toperform increasingly complex tasks. With the increasing complexity oftasks, the circuitry found in computers has also become more complex.Computer designers and manufacturers also desire to provide thesecomplex functions with a minimum amount of space to satisfy consumersand to reduce costs, resulting in increasingly high-density circuitryfor computers. The high density of circuitry has resulted in bothsmaller components (e.g., headers and connectors) as well as componentsthat are harder for users to reach.

High-density circuitry results in difficulties both at installation orconstruction as well as later with repair or replacement of parts. Thisproblem often manifests with expansion headers of boards in a computer.Boards, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), allow for expansion of acomputer system by connecting components of a computer system to boardheaders. Connectors that fit into board headers are well known in theart. These connectors typically have a plurality of electrical pins thatinsert into the header and a plurality of wires that connect to acomponent. To release the connector, a user may simply pull on theconnector until its electrical pins retract from the header. In adensely packed computer, however, it may be difficult for a user toreach the connector in order to pull it out, resulting in userfrustration.

This problem is exacerbated when the connector is latched to the headerinstead of simply inserted. Connectors are often latched to headers whenit is desired that the connector does not come loose from the header,such as when a connector is used for a power supply or other importantcomponents. To latch to a header, connectors typically have a snapwhich, when the connector is inserted into a header, attaches theconnector to the header via a header latch point on the header. Once theconnector snap is in place, the connector is securely attached to theheader. To remove the connector, a user must press a finger releasetouch point on the snap that releases the snap so that the connector maythen be extracted. Because of the high density of circuit boards,however, a user may have difficulty in reaching the snap and thus cannotpress the finger release touch point to release the connector.Similarly, users may have problems inserting the connector in the firstplace in situations where the header is difficult to get to for a user'shands. These problems can be worsened when a more robust latch is used,such as may be used for more crucial connections like those for powersupplies. Even when users can reach the connector with their fingers, itmay be ergonomically undesirable for them to have to press a smallbutton in a possibly hard-to-reach location.

As the density of computer components continues to increase, users arelikely to become increasingly frustrated with difficulties in inserting,latching, and removing connectors from board headers. There is,therefore, a need for an effective system to insert and removeconnectors from boards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems identified above are in large part addressed by methods forinserting and/or removing a connector with a remote connector agent.Embodiments may include a method of inserting and removing a connector.Embodiments of the method may include inserting a connector into aremote connector agent to form a remote connector system and pushing theremote connector into a header of a board to insert the connector intothe header. Embodiments may also include pulling the remote connectorsystem to retract the remote connector from the header. In someembodiments, inserting the connector into the remote connector agentfurther comprises pushing back one or more insertion snap pushers toallow insertion of the connector. In some embodiments, pulling theremote connector system further comprises releasing a snap of theconnector with a snap release actuator before retracting the remoteconnector system from the header.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of certain embodiments of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon reference tothe accompanying drawings in which, like references may indicate similarelements:

FIG. 1 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of a remoteconnector system with a connector and remote connector agent accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of aconnector suitable for insertion into a remote connector agent accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of theremote connector agent of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a top, left side, and front side partial perspective viewof the remote connector agent of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of aconnector being inserted into a remote connector agent according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 6 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective partial view ofa connector loaded into a remote connector agent being inserted into aheader according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of a remoteconnector system latched to a header according to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of a remoteconnector system removed from a header according to one embodiment;

FIG. 9 depicts a top, back, and side partial perspective view of aremote connector system attached to a header according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 10 depicts a top, back, and side partial perspective view of aremote connector system where the snap has been released according toone embodiment; and

FIG. 11 depicts an example of a flow chart inserting and removing aconnector with a remote connector agent according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of theinvention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The example embodimentsare in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, theamount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipatedvariations of embodiments; but, on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make suchembodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Methods for inserting and/or removing a connector with a remoteconnector agent are disclosed. Embodiments may include a remoteconnector agent apparatus having a main body forming a connector cavityand one or more insertion snap pushers each having a snap pusher lowersurface. The insertion snap pushers may move outward during insertion ofa connector into the connector cavity and move inward after insertion ofthe connector so that the snap pusher lower surfaces rest on a lip ofthe connector after insertion of the connector. Embodiments may alsoinclude a retraction holder ledge to support the lip of the insertedconnector during retraction and a connector snap release actuator topivot a snap of the inserted connector in response to a pulling force onthe remote connector agent. In a further embodiment, the insertion snappushers and the retraction holder ledge have a float distance betweenthem that is larger than the height of the connector lip.

The disclosed methodology and system may provide for an effectivemechanism for inserting a connector into a circuit board and removingthe connector from the board. Using the disclosed remote connectoragent, a user may insert a connector into the header after placing theconnector within the remote connector agent. During insertion, theremote connector agent advantageously allows the snap of the connectorto attach to the header without interference. When the user wishes toremove the connector from the header, they may pull upon the remotecontrol agent to accomplish this task. The remote control agent remotelypivots the snap to release the connector from the header and, afterrelease of the latch, allows the user to pull out the connector from theheader. A user of the disclosed remote control agent may thusefficiently and effectively remotely attach and remove a connector froma header, including latching and unlatching the connector. Using theremote control agent may be particularly useful when a header is in alocation that is hard to reach, simplifying the user's task of attachingand removing the connector. Even where a connector is not difficult toreach, the disclosed system may provide an ergonomic advantage overprevious systems as pushing and pulling the remote connector agent maybe better ergonomically than having to push a small snap for some users.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a front, top, and right sideperspective view of a remote connector system with a connector andremote connector agent according to one embodiment. In the depictedembodiment, the remote connector system 100 includes a connector 104 anda remote connector agent 102 that is adapted to allow insertion of theconnector 104. Once the connector 104 is inserted, a user may insert theconnector 104 into a board header (not shown) by pushing down on theremote connector agent 102 towards the header. Boards, such as printedcircuit boards (PCBs), allow for expansion by connecting components of acomputer system to board headers. Components may connect to the boardheader via a connector 104. Connectors typically have a plurality ofelectrical pins that insert into the header and a plurality of wiresthat connect to the component.

The remote connector agent 102 may have a body forming a connectorcavity that may hold the connector 104. The remote control agent 102 mayoptionally also have a handle to facilitate pushing and pulling of theremote control agent 102 by a user. The remote control agent 102 may beconstructed of any type of material, including metals such as die-castaluminum, plastics, ceramics, or other materials. In some embodiments, anon-conductive material such as plastic or ceramic may be used tominimize the chance of an electrical short in the event that the boardis not properly protected.

As will be described in more detail subsequently, the remote connectoragent 102 may advantageously not interfere with the normal operation ofthe connector 104 during insertion of the connector 104 into a header.Normal operation of a connector 104 (as described in more detail inrelation to FIG. 2) during insertion involves a snap of the connector104 attaching to a protuberance of the header so that the connector 104is securely attached to the header. While embodiments of the inventionare described herein as utilizing a connector 104 with a snap thatattaches to a header, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the disclosed remote connector agent 102 may also be used withconnectors 104 that do not attach to headers or for inserting connectors104 into headers that do not provide latching capability.

The remote connector agent 102 may also advantageously facilitateremoval of a latched connector 104 from a header. Without the disclosedremote connector agent 102, a user must release the connector 104 fromthe header by pushing down on the snap so that the snap rotates, orpivots, and releases the connector from the header. The user must thenmanually pull the connector 104 out of the header. This task may bedifficult for users as the header and snap may be located withindensely-packed circuitry, making it challenging for the user to gettheir finger on the snap. A connector 104 installed using the remoteconnector agent 102 may remotely release the snap when a user pulls upon the remote connector agent 102, as will be described in more detailsubsequently. The handle of the remote connector agent 102 may besignificantly easier for a user to reach in many computerconfigurations, facilitating removal of the connector 104.

The remote connector agent 102 may be sized appropriately for theconnectors 104 for which it is intended. The size and shape of aconnector 104 may vary depending on manufacturer, intended use, thenumber of wires, the number of pins, or other factors. Connectors 104generally fall into families of connectors with the same number of pinsand an industry-standard size, though variations do occur. In someembodiments, a remote connector agent 102 may be sized for a connector104 family of substantially similar size so that it may be utilized withany connectors 104 in that family. The remote connector agent 102 mayalso be shaped and sized appropriate for the form factor of the familyof connectors 104 in these embodiments. The remote connector agent 102may be sold as part of a package with a connector 104 or it may be soldseparately. Connectors 104 may be provided by manufacturers such asFoxconn® Electronics Inc. (a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision IndustryCo., Ltd of Taiwan) or Molex® Inc. of Lisle, Ill.

FIG. 2 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of aconnector 104 suitable for insertion into a remote connector agent 102according to one embodiment. In the depicted embodiment, connector 104includes a plurality of wires 202 attached to a body 204. The wires 202may connect to a component of a computer system in some embodiments.Attached to the body may be a plurality of electrical pins 206. Theelectrical pins 206 are the part of the connector 104 that are at leastpartially inserted into a header. Each electrical pin 206 may form anelectrical connection with the header and one of the wires 202,providing the connection between the computer housing the board and thecomponent. The body 204 may also have a lip 212 where the wires 202enter the body.

Body 204 of the connector 104 may also have a snap 208 for latching to aboard header. When the connector 104 is inserted, the snap 208 mayrotate or pivot outward over a header latch point (a protuberance fromthe header) and ‘snap’ down over the header latch point when theconnector 104 is fully inserted. To release the latch, a finger releasetouch point 210 of the snap 208 must be pushed down to pivot the snap208 away from the header latch point. A sufficient force applied to thefinger release touch point 210 releases the snap 208, allowing theconnector 104 to be withdrawn from the header. As will be described inmore detail subsequently, the connector snap release actuator of theremote control agent 102 may actuate (by applying a sufficient force)the finger release touch point 210 of a standard connector 104 tounlatch the connector 104 from the header.

FIG. 3 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of theremote connector agent 102 of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment. Thedepicted remote connector agent 102 includes a main body 304 forming aconnector cavity 306. The main body 304 may include sidewalls 316 alongwith a back wall 318 to help from the connector cavity 306. Theconnector cavity 306 may be sized to accommodate a particular type orsize of connector 104 in some embodiments. A handle 302 may also beattached to the main body 304 to facilitate pushing and pulling of theremote connector agent 102 by a user. For example, a user may push downon a flat upper surface of the handle 302 and pull up on a grip or othershape of the handle 302 that allows a pulling motion. A handle 302 isnot required but may be beneficial to improve the ergonomics of theremote connector agent 102.

The remote connector agent 102 may also include one or more insertionsnap pushers 308, which may be located in the main body sidewalls 316 insome embodiments. The insertion snap pushers 308 may be flexible and atleast partially within the connector cavity 306 so as to be pushedoutward during insertion of a connector 104. Once the connector 104 isfully inserted, the insertion snap pushers 304 may move inward so thatthey rest on top of the lip 212 of the connector 104. Each insertionsnap pusher 308 may have a snap pusher lower surface 314 that may be incontact with the top surface of the lip 212. The snap pusher lowersurface 314 may help retain the connector 104 in the remote connectoragent 102 by preventing upward movement of the connector 104 when theremote connector agent 102 is being pushed downward.

The remote connector agent 102 may have a retraction holder ledge 312around all or part of the bottom of the connector cavity 306. Aninstalled connector 104 may be positioned so that is lip 212 is incontact with the retraction holder ledge 312 at some times. Theretraction holder ledge 312 accordingly may provide a lower limit on themovement of an installed connector 104. When the remote connector agent102 is being pulled upwards to extract the connector 104 from a header,the lip 212 may press against the retraction holder ledge 312, resultingin the upwards force necessary to extract the connector 104.

The remote connector agent 102 may also include a connector snap releaseactuator 310. The connector snap release actuator 310 may release thesnap 208 of a connector 104 before the connector 104 is pulled upwardsby the retraction holder ledge 312, allowing unrestrained movement ofthe connector 104 after release. The initial upward motion of anextracting remote connector agent 102 may cause the connector snaprelease actuator 310 to impart a force to the finger release touch point210 of the snap 208, unlatching the connector 104. The lip 212 of aconnector 204 may advantageously ‘float’ between the snap pusher lowersurface 314 and the retraction holder edge 312 in some embodiments. Inthese embodiments, the distance between the snap pusher lower surface314 and the retraction holder edge 312 may be larger than the height, orthickness, of the lip 212. As will be described in more detail inrelation to FIG. 5, the float, or gap, between these two surfacesfacilitates unlatching of the snap 208 during retraction of theconnector 104.

FIG. 4 depicts a top, left side, and front side partial perspective viewof the remote connector agent 102 of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment.The depicted remote connector agent 102 of FIG. 4 is an alternative viewof the remote connector agent 102 of FIG. 3 and the description of FIG.3 will not be repeated in the interest of brevity. The remote connectoragent 102 of FIG. 4 includes two insertion snap pushers 308 each with asnap pusher inner surface 402. When a connector 104 is inserted into theconnector cavity 306, the connector 104 may apply a force to the snappusher inner surfaces 402 to push the insertion snap pushers 308 out ofthe way of the connector 104. Once the connector 104 is sufficientlyinserted, the insertion snap pushers 308 may return inward tosubstantially their original positions so that the snap pusher lowersurface 314 (as depicted in FIG. 3) may rest on top of the lip 212.

FIG. 5 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of aconnector 104 being inserted into a remote connector agent 102 accordingto one embodiment. The connector 104 of FIG. 5 has a lip 212 with a lipheight 502. The lip height 502 may be the height, or thickness, of thelip 212. As described previously, the connector 104 may be inserted intothe remote connector agent 102. During insertion, the connector 104 maypush aside the insertion snap pushers 308 and, once the connector 104 issufficiently inserted, the insertion snap pushers 308 return to theiroriginal position so that they may restrain the connector 104 from thetop of the lip 212. Once it is inserted, the lip 212 of the connector104 may be positioned in between the snap pusher lower surface 314 andthe retraction holder ledge 312. The top surface of the lip 212 may befacing the snap pusher lower surface 314 and the bottom surface of thelip 212 may be facing the retracting holder ledge 312. The distancebetween the snap pusher lower surface 314 and the retraction holderledge 312 is the float distance 504. According to the disclosedembodiments, the float distance 504 may advantageously be larger thanthe lip height 502 so that there is a gap, or float, of the lip 212.

During insertion of the connector 104 and once the connector 104 impactsthe header, the insertion snap pusher 308 may be in contact with the lip212. In this situation, the float is between the lip and the retractionholder ledge 312 while the snap pusher lower surface 314 is imparting adownward force to the connector 104. The connector 104 and remoteconnector agent 102 may maintain this relative relationship while theconnector 104 is inserted into the header. When a user begins pulling upon the remote connector agent 102, the initial motion of the remoteconnector agent 102 (while the connector 104 remains stationary)unlatches the snap 208. As the user continues to pull upwards, theretraction holder ledge 312 will contact the bottom surface of the lip212, resulting in the float being between the lip 212 and insertion snappushers 308. It is during this time that the float is moving from abovethe lip 212 to below it that the connector snap release actuator 310releases the snap 208, as will be described in more detail subsequently.The retraction holder ledge 312 may then impart the force necessary toretract the connector 104 from the header until the connector 104 isfree.

FIG. 6 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective partial view ofa connector 104 loaded into a remote connector agent 102 being insertedinto a header according to one embodiment. In FIG. 6, a header 604 witha header latch point 606 is depicted attached to a board 602. Board 602may be any type of surface, including a board such as a circuit board orprinted circuit board (PCB). Headers 604 are known in the art and mayinclude a plurality of electrical pin receptacles 608 to receive theelectrical pins 206 of a connector 104 when it is inserted. The headerlatch point 606 may be a latch or other protuberance that may restrain asnap 208 that is positioned over it.

In FIG. 6, the position of a connector 104 loaded into the remoteconnector agent 102 to form a loaded remote connector system 100 isillustrated. When the connector 104 is being inserted, the insertionsnap pushers 308 may be pushing down on the lip 212 and are positionedto push the connector 104 into the header 604. The snap 208 is free topivot, or rotate, outward over the header latch point 606 even when theconnector 104 is inserted into the remote connector agent 102. The snap208 and header latch point 606 may accordingly perform their intendedfunctions in spite of the presence of the remote connector agent 102,allowing the remote connector system 100 to be securely latched to theheader 604 and board 602.

FIG. 7 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of a remoteconnector system 100 latched to a header according to one embodiment. InFIG. 7, the snap 208 of the connector 104 is in place to attach theconnector 104 and remote connector agent 102 to the header 604 and board602. The connector 104 may accordingly attach to the header 604 as ifthe remote connector agent 102 was not present.

FIG. 8 depicts a front, top, and right side perspective view of a remoteconnector system 100 removed from a header 604 according to oneembodiment. In the depicted embodiment, the remote connector system 100is fully retracted from the header 606. As the remote connector system100 is pulled upwards, the snap 208 releases from the header latch point606 and then the electrical pins 206 retract from the header 604. Thesnap 208 release will be described in more detail in relation to FIG.10. Once a user has fully retracted the connector 104, they may removethe connector 104 from the remote connector agent 102, reinsert theremote connector system 100 into another header 604, or perform othertasks. In some embodiments, to remove the connector 104 from the remoteconnector agent 102 the user may manually push the insertion snappushers 308 outward so that the connector 104 may be more easilyremoved.

FIG. 9 depicts a top, back, and side partial perspective view of aremote connector system 100 attached to a header according to oneembodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, snap 208 is positioned over theheader latch point 606 to securably retain the connector 104 to theheader 604. The connector snap release actuator 310 may be positionedunderneath the finger release touch point 210 with a float gap 902 inbetween them. The float gap 902 may remain from the initial insertion ofthe connector 104 into the header 604. In one embodiment, the fingerrelease touch point 210 and/or the connector snap release actuator 310form a ramp 904 between them. The ramp 904 may facilitate pivoting orrotation of the snap 208 during retraction, as described in relation toFIG. 10. A similar float gap 902 may exist between the lip 212 and theretraction holder ledge 312. The connector 104 is thus ‘pushed in’ withthe float gaps 902 below the lip 212 and/or snap 208, resulting from theaction of pushing the connector 104 down into the header 604 with theremote connector agent 102.

FIG. 10 depicts a top, back, and side partial perspective view of aremote connector system 100 where the snap has been released accordingto one embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the process of pullingup the remote connector agent 102 has begun (from the latched state ofFIG. 9) and the snap 208 has been released. Once the snap 208 has beenreleased, a user may pull the connector 104 out of the header 604. Asthe remote connector agent 102 is pulled upwards, the float gaps 902 ofFIG. 9 are closed. During this time, the ramp 904 formed by theconnector snap release actuator 310 and the finger release touch point210 may gradually pivot or rotate the snap 208 until it is clears theheader latch point 606 and is accordingly released. Once the float gaps902 are substantially eliminated, the retraction holder ledge 312 may bein contact with the lip 212 and the connector snap release actuator 310may be in contact with the finger release touch point 210. By rampingthe connector snap release actuator 310, the snap 208 may be pivotedclear of the header latch point 606 smoothly by pulling of the remoteconnector agent 102 before extraction of the connector 104. From theuser's perspective, a single pulling motion of the remote connectoragent 102 first releases the snap 208 and then extracts the connector104. The force exerted between the retraction holder ledge 312 and thelip 212 and between the connector snap release actuator 310 and thefinger release touch point 210 may pull the connector 104 upwards.

FIG. 11 depicts an example of a flow chart inserting and removing aconnector 104 with a remote connector agent 102 according to oneembodiment. Flow chart 500 begins with element 502, where a user beginsthe process of inserting a connector 104 into a remote connector agent102 by pushing back the insertion snap pushers 308 after which the usermay place the connector 104 fully into the connector cavity 306 atelement 1104. Once the connector 104 is positioned within the remoteconnector agent 102, the insertion snap pushers 308 may return to theiroriginal positions to help hold in the connector 104. In someembodiments, the action of the user placing the connector 104 in theconnector cavity 306 may provide sufficient force to push back theinsertion snap pushers 308. In other embodiments, the user may manuallypush back the insertion snap pushers 308 or use another methodology.

Once the connector 104 and remote connector agent 102 have been combinedinto a remote connector system 100, the user may push the remoteconnector system 100 into the header 604 at element 1106. As describedpreviously, the insertion snap pushers 308 may impart the downward forceto a lip 212 of the connector 104 as it is inserted. As part of theinsertion process, snap 208 may pivot over the header latch point 606 atelement 1110.

To pull out the remote connector system 100, a user may pull up on thehandle 302 of the remote connector agent 102 at element 1112. Asdescribed in relation to FIG. 10, at element 1114 the upward force frompulling the handle 302 eliminates the float and releases the snap 208 byaction of the connector snap release actuator 310. Continued upwardforce may pull the connector 104 out the header 604 entirely at element1116, after which the method terminates.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure that the present invention contemplates a system,method, and apparatus for inserting and removing a connector with aremote connector agent. It is understood that the form of the inventionshown and described in the detailed description and the drawings are tobe taken merely as examples. It is intended that the following claims beinterpreted broadly to embrace all the variations of the exampleembodiments disclosed.

While certain operations have been described herein relative to adirection such as “above” or “below” it will be understood that thedescriptors are relative and that they may be reversed or otherwisechanged if the relevant structure(s) were inverted or moved. Therefore,these terms are not intended to be limiting.

Although the present invention and some of its advantages have beendescribed in detail for some embodiments, it should be understood thatvarious changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Although an embodiment of the invention mayachieve multiple objectives, not every embodiment falling within thescope of the attached claims will achieve every objective. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

1. A method for inserting and removing a connector, the methodcomprising: to allow insertion of a connector, pushing back one or moreinsertion snap pushers of a remote connector agent apparatus from anoriginal position, wherein the insertion snap pushers are eachpositioned within one of two sidewalls of a main body of the remoteconnector agent apparatus; inserting the connector into the remoteconnector agent to form a remote connector system, the connectorcomprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, two longersurfaces, two shorter surfaces, and a lip extending substantially aroundthe top surface of the body; allowing the one or more insertion snappushers to return to their original position after the connection hasbeen inserted into the remote connector agent such that the one or moreinsertion snap pushers rest on the lip of the inserted connector;pushing the remote connector system into a header of a board to insertthe connector into the header by pushing the lip of the connector withone or more insertion snap pushers; pivoting a snap over a header latchpoint of the header, the snap being attached to the body at a midpointof one of the longer surfaces of the body; pulling a handle of theremote connector agent apparatus to retract the remote connector systemfrom the header; releasing the snap of the connector with a single snaprelease actuator that is actuated by pulling the handle of the remoteconnector agent apparatus, wherein the single snap release actuator ispositioned midway between the two sidewalls of the main body of theremote connector agent apparatus and includes a ramp for contacting thefinger release touch point of the connector; and after releasing thesnap of the connector, pulling the connector out of the header bypulling the lip with a retraction holder ledge of the remote connectoragent apparatus.